Today

Sorry that it's taken so long to get to my long promised post. I hope that NO ONE misconstrues this as a vacation. Granted that's what I try to make this for the kids but by no means is this stuff relaxing!!!

We came down to SLC yesterday and was fortunate enough to stop in and see our dear friend and neighbor Pamela Lynn. She is on the Bone Marrow Transplant Floor and has a beautiful view from her room. She and her husband seemed really tired and so we stayed for just a moment. I was so good and uplifting to see her. She is truly an inspiration and we are so thankful we could stop and say hi!!!

Dylan and I were up at Primary Children's at 6:30AM. We got in, in good time and he really handled the whole thing a lot better than I was expecting or for what he has done before. He did have a harder time coming out of sedation, (he couldn't quit throwing up) and even Zofran didn't seem to help much. So we went and saw his neurosurgeon. Dr. Kestle said that he thought the scan looked pretty good. He saw fluid in Dylan's surgical space but that it wasn't abnormal. I was so relieved to hear that because Dylan has been regressing some and it's great to know that it is not a physical brain problem. The tough part is is that we still have to figure out what the problem is. (He can't remember words like cracker or eggs, calls people he knows really well by the wrong name and although we had our colors down at 98% before Christmas, we are only getting 50% correct now.) Perhaps that is what tomorrow is for. Another doctors appointment to see if we can't get a new take on things. I feel as if I have put this off way too long and am doing Dylan an injustice by not working on his behalf to get every possible bit of help for him. 

Anyway after the neurosurgeon, we came back to the hotel to pick up my mom and the other kids, then we took off in adventure. We went to Provo and found my great-uncles headstone so that we could take pictures to bring back and show the rest of the fam. We went to the Provo Temple and took pictures with the kids (except Dylan who was asleep) went to the MTC and took pictures of the kids(except Dylan who was asleep) went to Deseret Book, went to the Mount Timpanogos Temple and took pictures with the kids (except Dylan who was getting crabby) found our way to Cabela's which the kids loved, went to Cafe Rio (which the kids hated) for dinner, went to visit another neighbor friend who just came down here on an adventure of their own before we finally made our way back to our hotel. We lost the van keys down the elevator shaft (which we really hope to recover in the morning), fought with Dylan who was becoming increasingly more combative, bathed the kids, had milk and cookies (yes....even after the bath), fought with Jared for 45 minutes for him to fall asleep and now I'm venting on the computer in hopes that I can sleep past 3:30 (which I couldn't do this morning). Tomorrows activities include but are not limited to the Dr's. appointment, making sure that MRI reports and initial evals are all faxed to correct destinations, and somewhere in there, back to school shopping. Taylor told me that I could pick out her clothes if she could pick out the backpack. So that's our agreement. We'll see how that goes. Sorry to all who have tagged me. I will get to them!!!

Thank you to all who have prayed or thought of us. On trips like this, you really need all the help you can get. 

And we're off.....

We are taking off to SLC today. Dylan has his MRI in the morning and has to be at Primary Childrens Medical Center for sedation at 6:30AM. His MRI is at 7AM then we have an appointment with his neurosurgeon after he wakes up (probably around11AM). The hotel we are staying at does have a computer so I'll put another post on my blog tomorrow when we know the results. We love you all and hope you have a great Sunday.

The Twin Falls LDS Temple

During this last week we had the chance to go to Twin Falls and attend the open house of the new temple there. I went with all three kids, my parents and my youngest brother Matt. We all piled into the van and were on the road by 7:30AM. For us it was a 3 hour drive. My first thoughts as we approached was how much smaller it was than our Rexburg Idaho Temple. This open house was really neat for Taylor, because although we had just gone thru a temple open house in January, this time she asked more questions and seemed to understand a lot more about the purpose of temples. I want to share a link so that you can see some pictures for those who are not so lucky to make it there. It really was just beautiful and I'm so thankful that we could go.

July in hindsight...

Since I've started blogging, my journaling has taken a bit of a dive since I tell myself that I would rather blog that than journal it. And as you can see by July, I have not done much to keep up with anything. A work party on July 1st to the parade, rodeo and fireworks for the 4th of July. Having family pictures taken on July 9th, going camping in Island Park July 10th (at my uncles cabin) with a trip to West Yellowstone the following day-hosting a block party at our place on July 14th. Anyway the list goes on and on.....

Dylan at the splash park.

My mom making FRESH strawberry ice cream.

Happy days at the rodeo.

Twin Falls Temple.

Taylor at the Twin Falls Temple.

Dylan & Taylor at Shoshone Falls just outside of Twin Falls.

Shame on me.........

I have started this post 3 times now, just to cancel it because, what do I have to share!?! Just more of the same complaining......The dishwasher is broken (the new one we got just months ago) and besides the fact that washing dishes by hand bites, it has ruined the hardwood kitchen floor, the WHOLE FLOOR. The dryer is on the fritz but we hope it will last a few more months. The windshield in the van will be replaced tomorrow but the compressor that's gone out in the van is another question then to have it charged... we'll see. I have rescheduled Dylan's MRI four times now but am adamant to stick with the date we have now because the rest of the summer has now been planned around it. It has come time to convince the world (or at least the state of Idaho) that Dylan still qualifies for Katie Beckett and the only way to explain that would be to explain the road of good intentions..they lead to the same place.
.....And in the midst of feeling overwhelmed by my current misfortunes, bombshells have been dropped in my back yard. Or I should say 2 doors down. That's where the Lynn family lives. We learned days ago that Leukemia has hit their family, their wife and mother. The salt of the earth family, for whom you have NEVER heard an ill word pass any of their lips....Leukemia. Only 2-3 things in this world have rocked my world like this news has. I don't know why. I've been analyzing that a lot to no avail. But I feel my core extremely shaken. My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to this family, as well as to the family(across the field from us) that their 10 yr. old needs open heart surgery. And I'm upset about my dishwasher. Shame on me..........